New 5 ½-in. Solid Expandable Systems Provide Effective Technology for Successful Workover Project in Saudi Arabia

Al-Umran, Mohammed Ibrahim; Al-Amri, Kalifah M.; Ahmed, Iqbal; Qasim, Muhammad; Al-Obaidi, Ibrahim A.; Zhou, Siwang; Sanders, Tom; Stephenson, David; York, Patrick

doi:10.2118/120797-ms

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…(Hogg 2012, Al-Umran 2008, Umran 2008, Zhou 2004, Jeffre 2005, Rivenbark 2006, Ring 2007 For the Hassi Messaoud Field workover campaign, the operator decided to increase the overall window length to reduce the DLS through the junction area, therefore lessening the potential sidewall bending forces on the solid expandable casing. The benefits with slopes of this angle include shorter windows that result in less milling time and reduced cuttings to be removed to surface.…”

Section: Casing Exit Considerations and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Waddell 2004, Sparling 2004, Grant 2005, Hogg 2012, Al-Umran 2008, Jeffre 2005, Rivenbark 2006 Certain parameters most affecting a successful installation of solid expandable tubulars through a casing window were identified as follows: During the prior drilling and cleanout phases, both the operator and the expandable service provider have an opportunity to properly prepare for the job, evaluate existing conditions, and develop risk/mitigation measures to ensure that the best options are used and contingency measures are in place in advance of mobilizing and installing the solid expandable casing.…”

Section: Planning In Best Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inadequate window conditioning. The three main mechanisms of connection failure during expansion include the following: • Structural failure in the connectors, often in the box section caused by scratches and scars inflicted during running pipe in the hole and exceeding defect tolerance for the given material and amount of expansion (Figure 3) (Umran 2008, Zhou 2004,. Several case histories exemplify that connection failure during expansion cause most catastrophic failures downhole.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jagged edges create the potential for severe damage to the solid expandable tubulars (Grant 2005). Jeffre 2005, Rivenbark 2006, Ring 2007) Damaged expandable casing connection (Umran 2008). The three main mechanisms of connection failure during expansion include the following: • Structural failure in the connectors, often in the box section caused by scratches and scars inflicted during running pipe in the hole and exceeding defect tolerance for the given material and amount of expansion (Figure 3) (Umran 2008, Zhou 2004,.…”

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Integrating Optimized Casing Exit and Solid Expandable Technologies: Bringing New Life to Dead Wells

et al. 2012

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractSix recent well recompletions in Hassi Messaoud Field, Algeria utilized shallow angle casing exit technology in conjunction with solid expandable liner systems to optimize a workover campaign and revitalize an aging field. The operator in this field faced recompletion challenges such as existing well size constraints, reducing top-down drilling cost, and maximizing completion clearance while creating maximum reservoir contact (MRC) wells. The combination of shallow angle and expandable technology proved to be beneficial by reducing the dogleg severity (DLS) at the window exit, reducing the risk of expandable pipe damage across the window exit, and allowing the solid expandable liners to be run out the window and seal above the window. Once in place, these liners were cemented and expanded successfully in both the openhole and through the casing exit window.In the past, casing exits resulted in significant size step downs for the resulting production liners. This in turn limited the completion options available, particularly for water shut-off. The development of solid expandable liner systems has significantly reduced such sizing limitations and provides greater size and flexibility, enabling the creation of larger laterals and optimum-sized completions. The ability to run expandable liners through a conventional casing exit window has been of some concern due to much higher DLS and possible damage to expandable pipe due to rugged window (if not properly milled and polished). This paper demonstrates that the integration of optimized casing exit and expandable liner technologies is a proven successful strategy for re-entry workover wells. This well enhancement strategy has successfully increased production in this field and others, facilitating the economical development of remaining oil reserves.

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Section: Casing Exit Considerations and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Planning In Best Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrating Optimized Casing Exit and Solid Expandable Technologies: Bringing New Life to Dead Wells

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Installation and Operational Performance of Horizontal Solid Expandable Openhole Production Liners in Maximum Reservoir Contact Wells – Case Histories

Sanders¹,

Zhou

York

et al. 2009

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Solid Expandable liners have been used extensively over the past 10 years for drilling liners, but rarely as production liners, much less in high risk environments where the expandable liner becomes differentially stuck as soon as it reaches the end of the horizontal hole section. This environment requires the liner to be cemented and expanded in one of the most (if not the most) difficult well conditions it can be subjected. The expandable liners discussed in this paper so far have shown positive field status as production liners. When an expandable liner, that is not differentially stuck, is expanded using a swage it typically "shrinks" in length as it expands in diameter as part of material balance physics. This shrinkage is typically 4 to 6%. That is, if a 1,000 ft liner is expanded 5% in diameter, the expanded length would be reduced to ~950 ft. To compensate for this shrinkage, an additional length of liner is run to ensure that the final length of liner required is delivered. However, when the expandable liner becomes differentially stuck or can not move along the length of the wellbore during expansion, it can not gain the material for its growth in diameter from the liner's length. Therefore, the material is sacrificed within the liner's wall and its connectors. This environment is considered one of the most strenuous a solid expandable liner can be subjected to during expansion. Combining insightful engineering with a stringent qualification regime of the expandable system and the tubulars and connectors that it utilizes, solid expandable production liners can be installed that will service these types of complex wells. While extensive engineering and lab testing of an expandable system is critical, the ultimate testing is in multiple field applications to best develop effective reservoir sweeping of a mature field. Several case histories of field installations will be reviewed. The installation, zonal isolation, and tubular performance of these liners will be evaluated and reviewed using downhole tubular inspection logs, observed installation phenomenon, and performance over time. This empirical data will give the potential end users fundamental knowledge and good case history information on how to best qualify and use solid expandable liners for the ultimate benefit of gaining more oil production and reducing overall well cost. Introduction It is necessary to have a basic knowledge of how solid expandable openhole liners are installed to extract a firm understanding of the information in this paper. While this paper reviews the basics, a host of technical papers and articles expound on the fundamentals of solid expandable liner installation. (Filippov 1999; Dupal 2000; Dupal 2001; Zhou 2004; Furlow 2000) With this foundation of understanding, an explanation of the wellbore environment of these complex wells will be provided. An investigation of the openhole production liner system qualification process will highlight the critical factors that significantly reduce operational risks. This paper probes several factors, specific to the wells of a major operator in Saudi Arabia, prior to and within the installation process that also reduce the end user's risk. Finally, an in-depth study of these several case histories will be examined to provide a deeper understanding through this situational analysis.

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Open-Hole Solid Expandables Eliminate Slim-Hole Configuration in Integrated Solution Workover Well

et al. 2010

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In Algeria about 60% of the proven oil reserves are in the Hassi Messaoud region which was discovered in the 1950's. Several oil production wells drilled over 40 years ago have been shut in and are awaiting workover plans to revive those wells and get them back into economic production. A typical workover program is comprised of extending the open-hole in the reservoir zone, below 7-inch casing, and producing that through a new 4-1/2-inch perforated production liner. At the time of initial drilling of those wells, the reservoir pressure was as high as that of the shale zone immediately above it. This reservoir pressure has now declined and can be found to be as low as one-third of the shale formation pressure. This recent variation in formation pressures (between exposed shale and reservoir zones) has created a need to mechanically isolate this exposed shale zone immediately above the lower pressure reservoir prior to drilling ahead. Original workover programs required the use of an additional (smaller size) casing string for this purpose, with the eventuality of drilling the reservoir open-hole section with a much smaller hole-size and completing the well as with a slim-hole configuration. This paper presents an alternative solution that was implemented to workover these type of wells and enable completion with a sufficient hole-size in the producing zone to avoid a slim-well configuration. The major technology used to facilitate this alternative workover was the installation of a solid expandable open-hole liner to mechanically isolate the high pressured shale zone above the reservoir. The aim was to still allow for a large enough open-hole passage in to the reservoir section to facilitate the use of high performance directional drilling BHA assemblies, The overall application of this workover is discussed to detail and highlight the added-value solid expandable liners provide in such workover applications. The successful integration and planning of the solid expandable installation along with; short radius casing exit, zonal isolation, and enhanced directional drilling has proven to be a significantly superior technical and economic alternative solution.

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New 5 ½-in. Solid Expandable Systems Provide Effective Technology for Successful Workover Project in Saudi Arabia

Cited by 6 publications

References 4 publications

Integrating Optimized Casing Exit and Solid Expandable Technologies: Bringing New Life to Dead Wells

Integrating Optimized Casing Exit and Solid Expandable Technologies: Bringing New Life to Dead Wells

Installation and Operational Performance of Horizontal Solid Expandable Openhole Production Liners in Maximum Reservoir Contact Wells – Case Histories

Open-Hole Solid Expandables Eliminate Slim-Hole Configuration in Integrated Solution Workover Well

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